Medicine supply apparatus

ABSTRACT

A medicine supply apparatus including a powder medicine dispensing portion that houses and dispenses a powder medicine is provided. The medicine supply apparatus includes: a leveling tool for leveling a surface of the housed powder medicine; and a leveling tool holder that holds the leveling tool. This configuration prevents the leveling tool from being easily lost, and eliminates the need to look for the leveling tool in every leveling. This allows an operator to quickly take out the leveling tool when needed, thereby providing good workability.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a medicine supply apparatus including apowder medicine dispensing portion that houses and dispenses a powdermedicine.

BACKGROUND ART

A medicine dispensing and packing apparatus or the like includes amedicine supply apparatus including a powder medicine dispensingportion. The medicine supply apparatus dispenses and supplies a powdermedicine among medicines. For example, an apparatus by the presentapplicant is described in Patent Document 1.

A powder medicine dispensing portion in Patent Document 1 has a powdermedicine housing groove having a V-shaped vertical section. An operatorsuch as a pharmacist places a powder medicine into the powder medicinehousing groove. The placed powder medicine drops onto a dispenserprovided below the powder medicine housing groove. Thus, the powdermedicine is dispensed, for example, into each dose for one package.

A surface of the powder medicine placed into the powder medicine housinggroove by the operator projects or is recessed immediately after thepowder medicine is placed. Since an irregular height of the surface ofthe powder medicine prevents the powder medicine from being equallydispensed, the surface needs to be leveled. In order to level thesurface of the powder medicine, a leveling tool such as a spatulaaccompanies the medicine supply apparatus. The operator holds theleveling tool and levels the surface of the powder medicine so as toobtain an even height of the surface.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei-7-61402

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Field

The conventional medicine supply apparatus does not include a space forholding the leveling tool. Thus, the operator places the leveling toolaround the medicine supply apparatus at an operator's discretion. Atthat time, a case such as a pencil case is used as a case for theleveling tool in some cases. An upper cover of the medicine supplyapparatus is openable/closable for maintenance or the like. Thus, in acase where the leveling tool is placed on the upper cover, the levelingtool sometimes drops onto a floor or the like when the upper cover isopened.

In the conventional medicine supply apparatus, a relationship betweenthe medicine supply apparatus and a storage space of the leveling toolis not established. Thus, the leveling tool is sometimes lost or needsto be looked for in every leveling, which reduces workability of theoperator.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide amedicine supply apparatus that allows an operator to quickly take out aleveling tool when needed, thereby providing good workability.

Solution to Problem

The present invention provides a medicine supply apparatus including apowder medicine dispensing portion that houses and dispenses a powdermedicine, wherein the medicine supply apparatus further includes: aleveling tool for leveling a surface of the housed powder medicine; anda leveling tool holder that holds the leveling tool.

According to this configuration, the medicine supply apparatus can holdthe leveling tool. This prevents the leveling tool from being easilylost, and eliminates the need for an operator to look for the levelingtool in every leveling.

As one aspect, the leveling tool holder may be provided near the powdermedicine dispensing portion, and on a front surface of the medicinesupply apparatus.

According to this configuration, the leveling tool can be held near thepowder medicine dispensing portion, and on the front surface of themedicine supply apparatus. This can reduce a distance when the operatortakes out the leveling tool from the leveling tool holder and carriesthe leveling tool to the powder medicine dispensing portion. This alsoallows the operator to quickly perform leveling.

As another aspect, the leveling tool holder includes a base mounted to abody of the medicine supply apparatus, a cover openable and closablewith respect to the base, and an inner space between the base and thecover, in which a plurality of leveling tools can be arranged inparallel.

According to this configuration, the leveling tools are arranged in theinner space between the base and the cover. This provides good hygieneof the leveling tool. Also, the plurality of leveling tools are arrangedin parallel, and thus one leveling tool can be easily taken out from theleveling tool holder.

As a further aspect, the cover includes a support surface that supportsthe leveling tools arranged in the inner space.

As a further aspect, the plurality of leveling tools are arranged in ashort direction of the leveling tools in the inner space.

As a further aspect, the leveling tool includes a leveling portion forleveling a powder medicine at least at one end of a rod-like grip, andthe leveling tool holder includes a recess for preventing interferenceof the leveling portion.

As a further aspect, the medicine supply apparatus further includes anopenable and closable upper cover, and the leveling tool holder alsoserves as a handle for opening the upper cover.

As a further aspect, the support surface has a step for supporting theplurality of leveling tools.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, a medicine supply apparatus can beprovided that prevents a leveling tool from being easily lost,eliminates the need to look for the leveling tool in every leveling,thus allows an operator to quickly take out the leveling tool whenneeded, thereby providing good workability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, seen from front, of a medicine dispensingand packing apparatus including a leveling tool holder of thisembodiment, with an inner mechanism being omitted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the leveling tool holder.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the leveling tool holder with acover being opened.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, seen from back, showing the cover of theleveling tool holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, seen from back, showing the cover of theleveling tool holder, FIG. 5(A) shows one leveling tool being arranged,and FIG. 5(B) shows two leveling tools being arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Forwordings of directions in the below description, “upper or lower” refersto a positional relationship in a state shown in FIG. 1, “front” refersto a front side and “back” refers to a back side in the state shown inFIG. 1. The wordings of the directions are used for convenience ofdescription, and not used for construing the invention in a limitedmanner.

A medicine supply apparatus 100 of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1,and includes a powder medicine dispensing portion 101 a in a frontportion of an upper surface of a body 101. An operator places a powdermedicine into the powder medicine dispensing portion 101 a. The “body”refers to a portion of the medicine supply apparatus 100 except aleveling tool holder 1 for description.

As shown in FIG. 1, the leveling tool holder 1 of this embodiment isprovided on the body 101 of the medicine supply apparatus and has a boxshape. The leveling tool holder 1 can house a plurality of levelingtools S . . . S therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the leveling tool holder 1has a width slightly larger than a length of the leveling tool S so asto house the leveling tool S with room. The leveling tool holder 1 isprovided near the powder medicine dispensing portion 101 a and on afront surface of the body 101 of the medicine supply apparatus. Sincethe leveling tool holder 1 is provided in such a positionalrelationship, an operator can take out a desired leveling tool S fromthe leveling tool holder 1, and immediately perform leveling in thepowder medicine dispensing portion 101 a. In this embodiment, theleveling tool holder 1 is provided on the front surface of the body 101of the medicine supply apparatus, but may be provided on variouspositions such as on an inside of a front door of the medicine supplyapparatus 100. However, from aspects of hygiene (adhesion of dust or thelike) or workability (ease of taking out the leveling tool S), theleveling tool holder 1 is desirably provided close to an upper portionof the medicine supply apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the leveling tool holder 1 of this embodimentincludes a base 2 mounted to the body 101 of the medicine supplyapparatus, and a cover 3 openable/closable with respect to the base 2.The cover 3 is pivotably supported by a lower portion of the base 2. Asshown in FIG. 3, the cover 3 is pivoted so that the cover 3 can beopened about 50° with respect to the base 2. An opening recess 21 isprovided in an upper front portion of the base 2. The operator caninsert his/her finger into the opening recess 21 to easily open thecover 3. In this embodiment, no means for closing the cover 3 isprovided, and the leveling tool holder 1 may be used with the cover 3being opened. A spring or the like may be provided in the base 2 or thecover 3 so that the cover 3 is automatically closed after the operatoropens the cover 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, magnets 22, 22 are provided at opposite ends in awidth direction (longitudinal direction) in an upper portion of the base2. Attraction portions 35, 35 made of steel sheets are mounted to thecover 3. Thus, each magnet 22 in the base 2 attracts each attractionportion 35 in the cover 3 to keep a closed state. The magnet 22 and theattraction portion 35 thus provided prevent the cover 3 from beingunexpectedly opened unless the operator places his/her hand on the cover3 to open the cover 3. Also, dust or the like is prevented from adheringto the leveling tool S. As such, in order to keep the closed state ofthe cover 3, various means may be used such as means using a magneticforce as in this embodiment and also means using projection and recessfitting or a hook and loop fastener.

A cutout 23 is formed in a middle of a lower end of the base 2. Thecutout 23 also serves as a handle for opening the upper cover providedwith the powder medicine dispensing portion 101 a or the like in themedicine supply apparatus 100. The operator can place his/her hand inthe cutout 23 to open the upper cover.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of leveling tools S . . . S can bearranged in parallel in an inner space formed by the base 2 and thecover 3. The wording “parallel” herein refers to the leveling tools S .. . S being arranged in a short direction (arranged laterally) ratherthan in a longitudinal direction (arranged vertically). In the levelingtool holder 1 of this embodiment, two leveling tools Sa and Sb can bearranged so that leveling portions S2 are parallel to each other asshown.

The leveling tool S used in this embodiment has a shape shown in FIGS.5(A) and 5(B), and includes plate-like leveling portions S2 at oppositeends of a rod-like grip S1. The operator can use the leveling portion S2to level a surface of the powder medicine placed in the powder medicinedispensing portion 101 a of the medicine supply apparatus so as toobtain an even height of the surface of the powder medicine. Dependingon manners of insertion of the leveling portion S2 into the powdermedicine dispensing portion 101 a, in this embodiment, leveling of fourpatterns can be performed for each leveling tool S. A leveling tool Sincluding a leveling portion S2 only at one end of a rod-like grip S1 isalso conceivable.

The leveling tool S is supported by support surfaces 31, 32 as innerlower surfaces of the cover 3. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5(A)and 5(B), the grip S1 of the leveling tool S is placed on the supportsurfaces 31, 32. The first support surface 31 is formed one step abovethe second support surface 32, and there is a step between the supportsurfaces 31, 32. One leveling tool Sa can be placed on the first supportsurface 31, and the other leveling tool Sb can be placed on the secondsupport surface 32. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5(B), one levelingtool Sa and the other leveling tool Sb can be placed on differentlevels. Thus, the operator can easily take out one leveling tool S fromthe plurality of leveling tools S . . . S housed in the leveling toolholder 1.

Recesses 33 recessed downward are formed on opposite sides in a widthdirection of the support surfaces 31, 32. Thus, the leveling portion S2of the leveling tool S does not interfere with the cover 3. The supportsurfaces 31, 32 and the recesses 33 are thus formed to form a cutout 34in a middle of a lower end of the cover 3. The cutout 34 matches thecutout 23 in the base 2 when the cover 3 is closed.

The leveling tool holder 1 of this embodiment has a box shape, andhouses the plurality of leveling tools S . . . S, but a leveling toolholder 1 holding the leveling tools S . . . S using other various meansis conceivable. For example, the various means include pocket-like means(holding by insertion), hook-like means (holding by hanging), meansusing a magnet (holding by attraction), means using a hook and loopfastener or the like (holding by attachment), fitting, holding with aband or the like, or tray-like means (placement). The support surfaces31, 32 and the recess 33 may be provided in the base 2, and the levelingtool S may be supported by the base 2.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 leveling tool holder-   2 base-   3 cover-   100 medicine supply apparatus-   101 body of medicine supply apparatus-   101 a powder medicine dispensing portion-   S leveling tool

1. A medicine supply apparatus comprising a powder medicine dispensingportion that houses and dispenses a powder medicine, wherein themedicine supply apparatus further comprises: a leveling tool forleveling a surface of the housed powder medicine; and a leveling toolholder that holds the leveling tool.
 2. The medicine supply apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the leveling tool holder is provided nearthe powder medicine dispensing portion, and on a front surface of themedicine supply apparatus.
 3. The medicine supply apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the leveling tool holder includes a base mounted to abody of the medicine supply apparatus, a cover openable and closablewith respect to the base, and an inner space between the base and thecover, in which a plurality of leveling tools can be arranged inparallel.
 4. The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe cover includes a support surface that supports the leveling toolsarranged in the inner space.
 5. The medicine supply apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein the plurality of leveling tools are arranged in ashort direction of the leveling tools in the inner space.
 6. Themedicine supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the levelingtool includes a leveling portion for leveling a powder medicine at leastat one end of a rod-like grip, and the leveling tool holder includes arecess for preventing interference of the leveling portion.
 7. Themedicine supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medicinesupply apparatus further comprises an openable and closable upper cover,and the leveling tool holder also serves as a handle for opening theupper cover.
 8. The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the support surface has a step for supporting the plurality ofleveling tools.
 9. The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the leveling tool holder includes a base mounted to a body ofthe medicine supply apparatus, a cover openable and closable withrespect to the base, and an inner space between the base and the cover,in which a plurality of leveling tools can be arranged in parallel. 10.The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the coverincludes a support surface that supports the leveling tools arranged inthe inner space.
 11. The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the plurality of leveling tools are arranged in a shortdirection of the leveling tools in the inner space.
 12. The medicinesupply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the leveling toolincludes a leveling portion for leveling a powder medicine at least atone end of a rod-like grip, and the leveling tool holder includes arecess for preventing interference of the leveling portion.
 13. Themedicine supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the medicinesupply apparatus further comprises an openable and closable upper cover,and the leveling tool holder also serves as a handle for opening theupper cover.
 14. The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the support surface has a step for supporting the plurality ofleveling tools.